Kappa Sigma - Baker University

2 Major's Update M ark Sims '88 came to Baker to play soccer. During the summer, he made some friends who also played and happened to be members of Kappa Sigma. Once the semester started, he had considered joining a few other fraternities, but he fit in so well with the men of Kappa Sigma, it was an easy decision. "Joining the Beta-Tau Chapter turned out to be the best thing for me. I made lifelong friends. Both the Baker soccer program and Beta- Tau helped shape me to be who I am today." Mark graduated with a degree in finance and economics. He is now a Principal at Grant Thornton leading Technology Solutions – Enterprise Performance Management practice. Grant Thornton is an independent audit, tax, and advisory firm. "I was on the path to get my accounting degree. When I experienced mutual fund accounting as part of my Accounting II class, I realized I didn't want to do that for the rest of my life. Fast forward to my first post-graduate job—doing mutual fund accounting. To escape the monotony of that job I wrote a program to address the mundane aspects of redemptions. That single act of making my job more palatable turned into an internal consultant position and launched a now over 20-year technology and consulting career." Living with so many people in the house from different backgrounds and personalities helped Mark learn to interact with individuals unlike himself. "Beta-Tau helped me adjust my style when working with different people. This has proven valuable in my business life, and I reflect on that experience often when I encounter people from differing backgrounds." "My experiences in Kappa Sig, and my time on the Baker soccer team, have taught me a lot about life. For example, you have to understand how to compete on a daily basis. Not necessarily how to win, but more about preparation for competition. Did you do enough? Will the outcome be what you expect in terms of a win? The question is often asked, 'Do you love to win or hate to lose?' and the answer should be the latter, but if I do what I need to get the result I'm after, I still get the expectation, which is the same as a win. Also, everything is a learning experience. You get out of it what you put in, so make the most of your time and you'll be a better person in the end." Mark's relationships with his Beta-Tau brothers are very strong to this day. He recounts the best memories coming from mundane things. "You would be asked to do something random like go for a late-night pizza run, and you didn't really want to go, but you did anyway. Those were the best times when strong relationships were formed. You learned who those people were and got to understand them better during the down-time." As for the state of the chapter, Mark is happy to see a positive group ready to turn things around. "There are some new faces who understand the importance of the chapter's need to make boys into men, and there's always an opportunity to get better. They lost their way a few years back, and they recognize that. Stuart Hoffman '80 said that if Kappa Sigma isn't making you better, then there's no purpose in the chapter, and I wholeheartedly agree with that statement." Mark is a past president of the Baker University Alumni Association. He and his wife, Tania, live in Olathe, Kansas, and have two children, Amelia and Tate. He still plays soccer and spends a lot of time with his kids. You can contact Mark at mark.sims@us.gt.com. Kappa Sigma Prepared Mark Sims '88 for Success Alumni Establish New alumni Interfraternity Council I n December 2013, Beta-Tau alumnus Jack Bowerman '67, in partnership with alumni representatives from three other Baker fraternities, formed an Alumni Intrafraternity Council that has been recognized and supported by the Baker Administration. This new council was formed with the mission of working with the University, the Interfraternity Council, and the leadership of its member organizations to identify, discuss, and resolve issues that impact the advancement of each fraternity, the Greek community, and the University as a whole. The major focus of this group is fraternity recruitment. Among other things, the council is currently working on a marketing brochure, a letter-writing campaign to scholarship recipients, and a casino night recruitment event. This newly formed council is one example of how Greek Life at Baker is on the rise. Chapter Officers Grand Master Riley Hoffman '11 Fairway, Kan. (913) 271-7405 rileywhoffman@stu.bakeru.edu Grand Procurator Sean Driskill '12 Lee's Summit, Mo. Grand Master of Ceremonies Michael Stevenson '91 Norman, Okla. Grand Treasurer Shane Hunt '12 Leawood, Kan. Grand Scribe Aaron Stewart '12 Hays, Kan. Recruitment Chairmen Jesse Miller '12 Olathe, Kan. (913) 980-1605 jessemmiller@stu.bakeru.edu Andrew Kelley '11 Lenexa, Kan. (913) 620-3401 andrewpkelley@stu.bakeru.edu

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